Soho Rep, a prestigious downtown nonprofit, will temporarily share space with Playwrights Horizons in Midtown Manhattan while planning for the future.
The nonprofit theater world is experiencing significant changes as a result of the economic impact of the pandemic. Soho Rep, a prestigious theater company, has made the decision to leave its longtime home in TriBeCa due to real estate limitations and financial concerns. Instead, Soho Rep will be sharing space with Playwrights Horizons in Midtown while they work on developing a more permanent plan for the future.
This move by Soho Rep is part of a larger trend in the nonprofit theater sector, with other companies like Second Stage Theater also making changes to their locations. Second Stage Theater is relocating from its Off Broadway home to share space with Signature Theater temporarily. These shifts in venue reflect the challenges that many nonprofits are facing and highlight the need to reassess real estate decisions as part of the solution.
The decision to partner with other theater companies is seen as a way to provide mutual support and strength in the face of industry-wide vulnerabilities. Eric Ting, one of Soho Rep’s directors, emphasized the importance of collaboration among theater organizations during these challenging times.
Soho Rep, founded in 1975, is a small theater company with a modest budget and a focus on presenting innovative and groundbreaking work. Despite its size, Soho Rep has a strong reputation for producing high-quality productions and showcasing the work of emerging playwrights. The theater has been instrumental in launching the careers of playwrights such as Jackie Sibblies Drury and Shayok Misha Chowdhury, whose works have received critical acclaim.
The decision to leave their current space in TriBeCa is a strategic move for Soho Rep as they navigate the financial pressures of operating a nonprofit theater. By sharing space with Playwrights Horizons, Soho Rep can reduce costs and continue to focus on producing cutting-edge theater that pushes boundaries and challenges audiences.
In addition to Soho Rep and Second Stage Theater, other nonprofit theaters are also reevaluating their real estate options in response to the economic challenges brought on by the pandemic. Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, Connecticut, recently made the decision to become an itinerant theater company after letting go of its waterfront home. These transitions underscore the need for nonprofits to adapt and innovate in order to survive in a rapidly changing environment.
As the nonprofit theater world grapples with financial uncertainty and shifting priorities, partnerships and collaborations are becoming increasingly important. By working together and sharing resources, theater companies can weather the challenges ahead and continue to provide audiences with thought-provoking and impactful productions. Soho Rep’s decision to share space with Playwrights Horizons is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the nonprofit theater community in the face of adversity.
Source: The NY Times
